Trish Bennett, Editor
CIRCLEVILLE – Pets are often the tragic victims of residential fires even when everyone else makes it out unharmed. Now, thanks to an effort by the Circleville Fire Department, pet owners may have one less thing to worry about in an emergency.
The CFD now has available an alert sticker that can be placed on a front door or window to let first responders know about furry family members living inside.
“We want to do all we can to keep all members of someone’s family safe,” said Captain Arron Kerns.
The sticker provides a space for residents to show how many dogs, cats or birds may live in the household to alert firefighters to look for them when entering a home. An extra space is also provided to alert crews to other less common household pets.
“It’s a heartbreaking thing to see someone lose a pet in a house fire,” Kerns said. “Most people consider their animals as members of their family, and it’s just as hard to see them perish.”
The information is considered a lifesaver if no one is home to notify rescue crews about pets when a fire breaks out, Kerns said. It also provides added protection for first responders who may not otherwise be aware they will be faced with a frightened animal inside.
“They will often be very scared and take up a defensive posture,” Kerns said. “If we know they’re in there, we can be prepared to deal with that.”
The pet alert stickers are available at no charge through the Circleville Fire Department and will also be distributed at various events throughout the year.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
